Lock and method of making same



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@m, 2,, 193%.; c. LEDIN LOCK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 22, 1930 w KMQ 04%.;

mvENToR w// 4f% ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles Ledin, Stamford, Conn, assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn.

Application September 22, 1930, Serial No. 483,483

33 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder locks of the type employing spring pressed sliding plate tumblers which are adapted to be operated by a key. More particularly, this invention relates to a lock of the type disclosed by Frederic K. Heyer in Patent 1,850,323, granted March 22, 1932, on an application Serial No. 387,912 filed August 23, 1929.

In the manufacture of locks of the sliding tumbler type, it has been common to employ a specific number of different tumblers corresponding to the key changes available at each bitting of the key intended to operate the lock. These tumblers are assembled as required by the configuration of the particular key used. It will be readily appreciated that this method of assembly involves a great deal of labor, and necessitates much skill in the matching up of the key bittings with the various tumblers corresponding to the key changes.

In the patent noted above, Frederic K. Heyer disclosed a lock of the sliding tumbler type, in which all of the tumblers are of the same construction, and where the tumblers are adjusted relatively to the key after assembly within the O plug. In carrying out his invention, Heyer uses a series of adjustable tumblers which are inserted and held within the plug, the key for the particular plug being inserted into contact with the tumblers. The tumblers are then pressed against the key, so that they are crushed to conform simultaneously with the plug periphery and the key contour, which varies of course with each particular key.

In the type of tumbler used by Heyer, a central cutout portion is utilized for traversal by the key in the regular manner known in the art. The tumbler is pierced at an upward portion forming a shoulder between said pierced upward portion and the central key traversed portion. This shoulder is deformed, compressed or adjusted by the compressing action described above, so that the greater the crushing necessary to conform the tumbler to the plug periphery and the key contour, the greater will be the deformation of the particular shoulder.

While the Heyer tumbler has been so designed that this crushing or deforming operation will not injure the same, it will nevertheless, be understood that the tumbler will not have the strength of a one piece tumbler of the prior art, due to the fact that there is now present, this upward cutout or pierced portion. As a feature of this invention I utilize a second or re-enforcing tumbler which forms a solid backing for the locking tumbler, and may be placed either at the front or rear of the locking tumbler, or at both sides thereof, to re-enforce the same when acted upon by the key. This tumbler also acts to re-enforce the locking tumbler when it is acted upon in the crushing operation, and will act to maintain the deformed shoulder in its initial aligned position. Preferably, the re-inforcing tumbler is so constructed that it will be moved to release position by any bitting of a key adapted for the lock.

The re-enforcing tumblers also act to prevent picking and makes picking of the lock even more difficult than in the regulation sliding tumbler plug. Further features of the invention will be quite apparent from a perusal of the following specifications and drawing. It will be well to emphasize at this point that while my invention is especially adapted for cooperation with the lock assembly shown by Heyer, it is also usable with other locks and also with other types of tumblers.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a look and plug embodying my invention, showing a main tumbler after it has been crushed, and with the auxiliary or re-enforcing tumbler cooperating therewith. Fig. 2 shows the auxiliary tumbler and the main tumbler in a tool prior to the crushing operation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the main and auxiliary tumblers in assembled position in a plug. Fig. 4 is a View of a regulation crushable tumbler. Fig. 5 is a View of my auxiliary or re-enforcing tumbler.

The tumblers of Figs. 4 and 5 are preferably inserted in pairs into the plug, and are each pressed by the spring 12 in a downward or looking direction. The spring is sorelated to each of the tumblers that it will never be possible for the auxiliary tumbler to remove the pressure of the spring from the main tumbler ID. The tumbler I is formed with a central cutout portion I3, and an upward cutout portion M, between the two of which is the key actuated shoulder l5. This shoulder occupies the initial position shown in Fig. 4; relatively to the two portions l3 and M. It will be observed that the portion M has squared corners l6 into which the material forming the shoulder I is adapted to be compressed, when this shoulder is deformed as will be described presently.

The auxiliary tumbler l l is constructed of solid material having only the cutout portion ll for traversal of the key which cooperates with the upper edge l8 as will be understood, forcing the tumbler up against the pressure of the spring l2. It will be further understood that the tumbler H is shorter in over all length than the diameter of the plug IS in which it operates, and the relation of the upper edge l8 to the outer periphery 2i] of the tumbler is such that even the highest hitting of a key 2| which may be inserted into the plug, will not position the peripheral portion 20 outside the plug periphery.

On the other hand, each tumbler I is of exactly the size of the diameter of the plug #9, and when properly actuated by a key cooperating with the shoulder [5, will assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which its upward peripheral portion 22 and its lower peripheral portion 23 are aligned with the plug periphery. The shoulder l5 initially occupies a position, where, when in contact with the lowest hitting of a key, it will align the tumbler exactly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. However, where a higher hitting of key is utilized, the shoulder IE will have to be deformed as will be presently described.

In assembling the plugs, the tumblers l0 and H are inserted in their chambers with a single spring exerting pressure on both tumblers, as is shown in Fig. 2. The key 2| is then inserted to contact with the various tumblers. The tumbler I0 when contacted by any hitting higher than the lowest hitting will be forced against the pressure of spring I2 so as to position its upward peripheral portion 22 outside of the plug. The plug, with the key and tumblers in position, is then inserted between the two jaws 24 of an assembly tool. These jaws are brought together into contact with the periphery of the plug l9. It will be readily understood that when the upper jaw 24 comes down against the plug body, it will compress its tumbler I0, so that the key actu ated shoulder l5 will be reshaped to conform with the particular hitting of the key, while the outside controlling portions 22 and 23 of the tumblers are made to conform with the plug contour. The same method of operation will apply to the various other tumblers in the plug, varying only as regards the particular key hittings used.

When this assembly operation has been completed, the plug may be inserted into the cylinder shell 25 illustrated in Fig. 1, and the key, when held in contact with the various tumblers, will align them with the plug periphery, so that the plug may be rotated in the usual manner well known in the art. As is readily seen from the drawing, the auxiliary tumbler II will always back up the relatively weak shoulder portion l5 and these auxiliary tumblers may be used at the front or rear of the tumbler, or at both sides of the same, as may be required in any particular lock to which this invention may be applied. While I have shown but one modification of my invention, and that applied to a particular type of tumbler, it should be understood that many adaptations of the basic principle may be devised by one skilled in the art and applied to other types of locks and tumblers, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers formed from a blank having a key contacting central portion, and an outer portion adjustable relatively to said central portion, the other of said sliding tumblers having a solid re-enforcing portion for said first tumbler, and a central cutout portion for actuation by a key.

2. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers being formed from a blank having a key contacting portion adjustable relatively to said tumbler blank by compression of the tumbler blank against the key, the other of said tumblers being of the standard solid type whereby to reenforce said first tumbler and having a central pierced portion for cooperation with the key by any key.

3. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers formed from a blank having a key contacting portion and a controlling peripheral portion, said key contacting portion being adjustable relatively to said peripheral portion by a compressing action against said peripheral portion, while said key contacting portion is in contact with the key, the other of said tumblers being of the'solicl standard type for reenforcing said first tumbler and having a pierced central portion for cooperation with a key.

4. In a lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers having a central cutout portion and an upward cutout portion forming therebetween a shoulder for actuation by a key, the other of said tumblers being of the standard solid typo equipped with a central cutout portion only for cooperation with a key.

5. In a lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers having a central cutout portion for traversal by a key in said keyway, said tumbler having also an upward cutout portion forming a shoulder with said central cutout portion for cooperation with the key, the other of said tumblers having only a central cutout portion for cooperation with the key.

6. In a lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a tumbler chamber in said plug, a pair of tumblers in said chamber, one of said tumblers being so formed that it will be operated into plug releasing position only by a key cut to a predetermined hitting, the other of said tumblers being so formed that it will be operated into plug releasing position by any hitting of said key.

7. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a plurality of locking tumblers in said plug, said tumblers being operable by a key inserted into said keyway for releasing said plug for movement, certain of said tumblers being formed so as to be moved to releasing position only when in contact with a definite predetermined bitting of a key in said plug, others of said tumblers being so formed as to be operable to released position by any hitting of said key in said plug.

8. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a tumbler chamber in said plug, a pair of tumblers in said chamber, one of said tumblers being so designed that when key actuated it occupies a position entirely within the plug chamber with its locking ends aligned with the periphery of the plug, the other of said tumblers being shorter than the tumbler chamber so that when key actuated, at least one end thereof lies relatively far removed from the plug periphery.

9. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a diametric tumbler chamber in said plug, a pair of tumblers in said chamber, one of said tumblers being equal in length to the diameter of said chamber so that when key actuated each end thereof lies on the periphery of the plug, the other of said tumblers being shorter than said tumbler chamber so that when key actuated at least one end there-- of lies relatively'far removed from the. plug periphery 10. vIna lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a plurality. of locking tumblers in said plug, springs for pressing said tumblers in a locking direction, said tumblers being operable against said springs by a key inserted into said keyway for releasing said plugfor. movement,

certain of said tumblers being formed so as to be set in releasing position onlywhen in con.-

tactwith definite bitting of. a key, others of said tumblers beingformed soas tobe set in releas-.. ing position by any bitting of the key.

11.- In a lock, a sliding tumblerplug, a keyway in said plug, a plurality of locking tumblers in i said plug, springs for pressing said tumblers in a locking direction, said tumblers being operable. againstsaid springs by a key, certain of said tumblers being formed from. blanks pierced for adjustment relatively to a key in said plu and adapted to be setinplug releasing position by a predetermined key. in said keyway, others of said tumblers being of the standard solid type adapted adapted to'be set in plug. releasing position by a predetermined key in said keyway, others of said tumblers being of the standard solid type adapted to re-enforce said pierced tumblers, said solid-tumblers being movable .into plug releasing positionby any bitting of said key.

13. Ina lock, a series of tumblers, certain of said tumblershaving weakened portions, others of .said tumblers having relatively strongv portions. located in juxtaposition tothe weak portions of said first named tumblers, whereby to re-enforce said first tumblers.

14. In a lock, a series of tumblers having weak portions wherebyv they may be compressed toa desired configuration, relatively strong tumblers adapted to be placed in juxtaposition tosaid weakened tumblers whereby to reenforce .said tumblers during normal operation of said lock.

15. In a lock, a series of..tumblers adapted to be actuated by a key, controlling portions of certain'of said tumblers so weakened as to permit compression to a desired configuration, and relatively strong tumblers in said lock, adapted to re-enforce said weakened portions during normal operation of said lock.

16. .Ina tumbler. plug, a tumbler chamber, a tumbler adapted tooperate in said chamber and to be actuated by the plug key, said tumbler having .a part thereof adjustable by compression against the key, and a second tumbler in said chamber adapted to re-enforce said adjustable portion during normal operation of said lock.

17. In a tumbler plug, a tumbler having a key contacting portion and a peripheral controlling portion, said portions being adjustable relatively to each other and to the plug and key contours, and a second tumbler in said plug adapted to reenforce said first tumbler during its normal key operation.

18. In a look, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers being formed from a blank having a key contacting portion adjust able relatively to said tumbler blank by comprestheifinished tumbler, the other of said tumblers being of the standard solid type and having a central piercedportion for. cooperation with the key, and operable into releaseposition by any bitting of'saidkey.

sion of the tumblerblank against the key to form 19; Ina lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblersbeing formed from a blankhaving a key contacting portion and a controlling peripheral portion, said key contactingportion being adjustable relatively to said periph-;

eral portion by compression against said peripheral portion while said key contacting portion is in contact with the key whereby to form the finished tumbler, .the other of said tumblers being of the solid standard type for re-enforcing said first tumbler before and after its forming and having a pierced central portion for cooperation witha key.

20. In a lock, a sliding tumbler plug, a keyway in said plug, a pair of locking tumblers in said plug, one of said tumblers having a central cutout, portionand an upward cutout portion forming {therabetween a shoulder for actuation by a key, the other of said tumblers being of the standard solid type equippedwith a central cutout portion for cooperation with a key.

21. In a look, a series of tumblers, certain. of

said. tumblers having weakened portions, others of said. tumblers having relatively strong 'portions located in juxtaposition to the weak por-5 tions of the first-named tumblers, whereby to.re.-

inforce said first tumblers, said second-named tumblers being so designed as to be moved into rel'easeposition in said look by any bitting of a key adapted to operate said first-named tumblers.

22. :In a look, a series of tumblers having specially prepare-d portions whereby to facilitate adjustment to a desired configuration, and operable into release position only by a key with predestructure, and a second tumbler in said plug.

adapted to reinforce said first tumbler during its normal key. operation, said second tumbler being movable" into release position by any bitting of" a key adapted to operate'said first tumbler.

24. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks all of the same size and configuration, each of said tumbler blanks being readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, said tumbler blanks being specially formed so that when manipulated into a definite position by a key, they may be readily operated upon to form finished tumblers conforming to a plug releasing pattern whenever set at said definite position by a key, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers and movable into a plug releasingposition by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

25. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks all of the same size and configuration, each of said tumbler blanks being centrally cut out for operation by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, said tumbler blanks being specially manufactured and prepared so that portions of the same are weakened for ready adjustment and adaptation to different keys, whereby when manipulated into a definite position by a key, they may be operated upon to conform simultaneously to the periphery of the plug and the bittings of the key to form finished tumblers, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers during and after forming and movable into a plug releasing position by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

26. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks all of the same size and configuration, and adapted to operate in said plug, each of said tumbler blanks being readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, each of said tumbler blanks being specially formed to facilitate an adaptation of said tumbler blanks so that they may conform to a plug releasing pattern while set in accordance with the key contour, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers during and after their adaptation and movable into a plug releasing position by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

27. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers adapted to operate in said plug, each of said tumblers being formed from a blank readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, each of said tumbler blanks having specially manufactured and prepared portions to facilitate simultaneous adjustment and adaptation of said tumbler blanks to the key contour and a plug releasing pattern whereby to form finished tumblers, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reenforcing relation to said first tumblers and movable into a plug releasing position by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

28. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks all of the same size and configuration, each of said tumbler blanks being readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, said tumbler blanks being specially formed so that when manipulated into a definite position by a key,

they may be readily operated upon to form finished tumblers conforming to a plug releasing pattern whenever set at said definite position by a key, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers during and after said conforming operation and. movable into a plug releasing position by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

29. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug having a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks, each of said tumbler blanks being readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, said tumbler blanks being specially formed so that when manipulated into a definite position by a key, they may be readily operated upon to form finished tumblers conforming to a plug releasing pattern whenever set at said definite position by a key, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers during and after said conforming operation and movable into a plug releasing position by a key of any bitting which may be inserted to operate said first tumblers.

30. As an article of commerce and independent sale, a key plug havin a series of tumblers formed from tumbler blanks, and adapted to operate in said plug, each of said tumbler blanks being readily operable by a key to occupy a definite position in said key plug, each of said tumbler blanks being specially formed to facilitate adaptation of said tumbler blanks so that they may conform to a plug releasing pattern while set in accordance with the key contour, and auxiliary tumblers in said plug maintained in juxtaposed reinforcing relation to said first tumblers during and after their adaptation.

31. In a lock, a series of tumblers, certain of said tumblers having weakened portions, others of said tumblers having specially prepared relatively strong specially prepared portions located in juxtaposition to the weak portions of the firstnamed tumblers, whereby to reinforce said first tumblers.

32. The method of reinforcing the relatively weak and cut out looking tumblers of a key plug which consists in placing next to said locking tumblers, reinforcing tumblers having solid strong portions in juxtaposed relation to the cut out portions of the locking tumblers.

33. The method of reinforcing the relatively weak key operated locking tumblers of a key plug which consists in placing in juxtaposed relation to said tumblers certain relatively strong reinforcing tumblers which are set in release position by any key inserted in the plug.

CHARLES LEDIN. 

